Device for separating disc-like objects, particularly coins

ABSTRACT

A device for sorting disc-like objects, particularly coins, comprises a rotatable centrifugal plate onto which the objects to be separated or sorted are placed. One portion of the periphery of the plate defines a discharge for the separated coins which move below a stripper bar which is located to overlie a portion of the periphery of the plate and permit objects of a thickness below a maximum selected thickness to pass below the stripper and through the discharge. A guide track is arranged to extend substantially to the periphery of the plate at the discharge and a plurality of dropout openings for objects of various size are located at spaced locations along the length of the track. In addition, a relatively large size dropout opening and collecting chute is located a slight distance away from the periphery of the plate in a position to receive coins which are fed below the stripper in an overlapping condition. For this purpose, the track includes a guide bar which runs along one side of the track and against which the coins are directed and which includes a flat step wall portion of a thickness corresponding to the minimum thickness of an object to be sorted. The mechanism includes a first conveyor which overlies the plate at the discharge and engages and feeds coins into the discharge obliquely toward engagement against the running edge. When any coins are fed which are in an overlapping relationship with one on top of the other, the uppermost one is fed by the conveyor over the step wall and into the overlying coin receiving opening. The device includes a transfer conveyor for moving the coins delivered against the running edge in an initial movement along the trackway and a second conveyor which moves them completely along the trackway until they fall down an opening corresponding to the size thereof.

ilnited States Zimmermann atet 1 DEVICE FOR SEPARATING DISC-LIKE OBJECTS, PARTICULARLY COWS [76] Inventor: Gert Zimmermann, Auf dem Grat 28-30, Berlin, Germany [22] Filed: Mar. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 238,494

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. Kocovsky Attorney-John J. McGlew et al.

571 ABSTRACT A device for sorting disc-like objects, particularly coins, comprises a rotatable centrifugal plate onto which the objects to be separated or sorted are placed. One portion of the periphery of the plate defines a discharge for the separated coins which move below a stripper bar which is located to overlie a portion of the periphery of the plate and permit objects of a thickness below a maximum selected thickness to pass below the stripper and through the discharge. A guide track is arranged to extend substantially to the periphery of the plate at the discharge and a plurality of dropout openings for objects of various size are located at spaced locations along the length of the track. In addition, a relatively large size dropout opening and collecting chute is located a slight distance away from the periphery of the plate in a position to receive coins which are fed below the stripper in an overlapping condition. For this purpose, the track includes a guide bar which runs along one side of the track and against which the coins are directed and which includes a flat step wall portion of a thickness corresponding to the minimum thickness of an object to be sorted. The mechanism includes a first conveyor which overlies the plate at the discharge and engages and feeds coins into the discharge obliquely toward engagement against the running edge. When any coins are fed which are in an overlapping relationship with one on top of the other, the uppermost one is fed by the conveyor over the step wall and into the overlying coin receiving opening. The device includes a transfer conveyor for moving the coins delivered against the running edge in an initial movement along the trackway and a second conveyor which moves them completely along the trackway until they fall down an opening corresponding to the size thereof.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU APR 1 01973 K N Q N" ix x \Q k I. MK lllw i F i NM N llm m 1 le lll Ma i a Q DEVICE FOR SEPARATING DISC-LIKE OBJECTS, PARTICULARLY COINS GENERAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to article-separating devices and, in particular, to a new and useful device DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Compared to the known sorting and counting machines, where a stripper is designed as a locking arm which can be adjusted in height in an operating position to the thickness of the coin or article to be passed therethrough, the stripper of the device forming the present invention defines a predetermined size of slot. If all of the coins of a mixed coin batch are sorted and counted in one operation, both the thickest and the thinnest coin must be able to pass through the slot from the centrifugal plate. This sorting and counting can be carried out much faster than if only the coins of a certain type are sorted and counted in several spinning operations. In this latter case, the locking arm or stripper arm is usually set first for the thinnest coins. Then the coins of the next greater thicknesses are counted until finally the coins with the greatest thicknesses of all are counted.

It was found to be a disadvantage that counting errors are possible in devices of this type. If superposed coins are fed through the stripper slot, there is a possibility that two of the coins will be counted as one. In addition to coins of the same diameter which may be superposed, it is also possible that a large coin carries along a smaller coin arranged on it so that it is not sorted out through the respective dropout openings but arrives in the dropout opening for the larger coin. Although such counting errors are relatively rare, nevertheless, it is a disadvantage that such errors are possible at all.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a simple and reliable device for sorting superposed coins, discs, etc., in a high speed sorting and counting machine which permits the rapid sorting and counting of the coins which pass through in a mixed order and which automatically ejects a coin lying on another coin. The device includes a first conveyor directly behind a centrifugal plate which receives all of the coins before they are moved into a sorting zone through a discharge of the plate. The invention provides a trackway with a guide bar forming a running edge directly adjacent the plate at the discharge thereof and which includes a flat step which is of a thickness which is about one-half the thickness of the smallest coin thickness. This half step portion of the running edge is located directly adjacent an ejection slot for superposed coins. The conveyor is angled to engage each coin that is presented through the discharge of the plate and to move it against the running edge, and in the event of a superposed coin, to push it off the step because the coin therebeneath supports it at a height in which it is over the top of the step. The device includes a transfer roll for transferring the coins moved to the step in a direction along the trackway and this forms part of a second conveyor which moves the coin completely along the length of the trackway until it moves down the properly sized receiving slot. The transfer roller is vertically adjustable independently of the first conveyor belt. The bottom coin of a superposed set of coins is delivered by the transfer roll to the sorting zone after the coin which is carried on its top is moved off the step.

The rotary drive of the transfer roll is effected preferably by the existing drive of the conveyor belt. To this end, drivers for the rotary drive of the transfer roll are arranged between the transfer roll and the second roll of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt rollers and the transfer roll are advantageously mounted on a hinge plate which can be adjusted to the track and which may be positioned by stops. On the outside of the conveyor belt, it is advantageous to arrange a flat lever in the track which is connected with a spring and which rotates about a vertical axis. The lever acts on the edge of the coin to urge it in the direction of the step. The lever ensures that a mixed batch of coins passing through the slot of the stripper will be positively engaged by the conveyor belt to feed it along the sorting bar.

The wear of the conveyor belt and of the transfer roll is not always uniform. For this reason, it is of advantage if the greater tendency to wear in the transfer roll is automatically compensated. To this end, the transfer roll is mounted on a vertically movable swivel arm and it has a feeder roll which bears, under spring action, on the transfer roll. The feeder roll is arranged at the end of a two arm lever which is mounted on a swivel arm and which bears with its free end against the adjustable stationary step. Preferably, the swivel arm is loaded by a compression spring, and it is provided with an end stop. The compression spring ensures the elastic bearing of the feed roll. When the transfer roll is worn out, its height is automatically adjusted.

The guide rail with the step of the track is preferably bounded by a separating wedge having an apex which coincides with the running edge of the guide bar and of the step. The apex is directed toward the step. The separating wedge acts as a guide edge for the coin to be ejected and facilitates its separation from the underlying coin. The conveyor belt associated with the sorting bar moves the coins along the bar where they are progressively passed into association with openings staggered in size starting with the smallest opening and ending with the largest opening. Counting of the coins is effected by electronic scanning heads which are arranged along the sorting zone.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved device for sorting disc-like objects, such as coins, which includes a rotatable plate onto which a plurality of coins to be sorted are fed, and which move through a discharge of the plate beneath a stripper rod extending across a portion of its arc, and a conveyor associated with the discharge for engaging each coin fed therethrough and advancing it against a running edge which includes a step portion of a thickness comparable to the thinnest coin to be sorted so that the step retains an underlying coin but permits the feeding off of an overlying coin by the conveyor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin sorting device which includes first conveyor means for detecting and separating coins which are fed in superimposition and for directing the coins which are fed properly and also the coin which remains after a superposed coin is removed along sorting track having a plurality of sized coin drop openings and preferably with scanning means located along the track for sensing and counting the coins which are moved to each successive drop opening A further object of the invention is to provide a coin sorting device which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises, a device for sorting disclike objects, particularly coins, which comprises a combined sorting and counting machine, including a plate or dish rim 1, having a rotatable centrifugal plate 2 centered therein, which rotates in the direction of the arrow 3 to move coins placed thereon for sorting toward a discharge station defined at an arcuate sector of the plate. Articles, such as the coins 4, arrive through a slot 5 defined between a stripper 6 and the top of the centrifugal plate 2. The stripper 6 is a fixed arm which is secured vertically on the coin dish by means of screws 7. The stripper 6 is arranged above the centrifugal plate 2 and it overlies a part of the plate and defines a discharge sector between the stripper and the peripheral edge of the plate. The discharge extends to a sorting zone 8 which extends outwardly tangentially from the plate 2. A sorting bar or track 9 contains dropout openings 10, which are staggered in size and which includes a smallest dropout opening designated 10followed by the next largest dropout opening 10 (the other dropout openings are not shown). The top side of the guide rail is the track 9 which is at the same level as the top side of the plate 2. The track 9 extends up to the centrifugal plate and carries guide bars 1 l and 12 on respective sides thereof. The guide bar 12 defines a running edge 13 along the dropout openings against which the coins are moved along the sorting zone 8. In the represented embodiment, the sorting zone 8 is horizontal. The sorting zone 8 includes an overlying endless conveyor belt 14 which is arranged at a small acute angle with the track 9 so that the coins are pressed against the running edge during their transport. Above each dropout opening is arranged a pressure roller 15 which runs on the underside of the conveyor belt 14.

A short endless conveyor 16 is arranged obliquely to the sorting zone 8 and it extends substantially parallel to the stripper arm 6. It includes a drive shaft 17 mounted in a bearing block 18 which is secured by means of screws 19 on a hinged plate 20. The plate 20 carries an arm 21 which rotatably supports a second roll 22 of the conveyor belt. On the underside of the conveyor belt 16, there is a pressure roller 23 which is mounted on a lever 24, which is connected to a leaf spring 25. The pressure roll ensures that an elastic pressure will act on the conveyor belt against the coins. The plate 20 has pins 26 by means of which it can be raised. A stop screw 27 extends through the plate 20, and it can be adjusted by access through a hole 28 of the cover 29 in order to effect a vertical adjustment of the conveyor belt 16.

Parallel to the second roll 22 is mounted a transfer roller 30 which forms part of the first conveyor which includes the conveyor belt 14 for the sorting zone 8.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the guide bar 12 includes a flat step portion 31 directly adjacent the centrifugal plate 2 which has a height which is equal to the height of the smallest coin which is being handled. The step 31 is arranged in the running edge 13 of the guide rail 9 and it forms a control edge for maintaining a lowermost one of two superposed coins so that it moves to the sorting section while permitting the upper one of the coins to be moved off the step. Above the step 31 is arranged the second row 22 of the conveyor belt 16. Directly behind the step, that is, outside the guide bar, is provided a large opening 32 in the bottom 33 through which the top coin of two superposed coins is ejected by the conveyor 16. The guide bar 12 terminates in a separating wedge at its end nearest the plate 2 with an apex which coincides with the running edge of the step portion 31 in order to ensure that the superposed coin feeds off into the drop chute while the underlying coin is fed into the sorting section.

In the lowered position of the plate 20, the plate bears against a leaf spring 35 which is secured on its bottom. The leaf spring extends behind the upper edge of the plate 2 and ensures its operating position as determined by the stop screw 27.

A pair of flat levers 36 and 37 are arranged outside the conveyor belt 16 and in the track 9 behind the slot 5, and they rotate about a vertical axis. Each is connected with a spring which presses them against the edge of a coin passing through the slot so that the coin is guided against the running edge and the step 31. The first lever 36 is located directly in front of the plate 2 and it is loaded by leaf spring 38. The second lever 27 is arranged in a laterally staggered position in respect to the first lever and is connected with a tension spring 39 which pulls it toward a stop 40. When a coin passes through, it lifts itself from the step 31. In the rest position, the second lever 37 points toward the transfer roller 30.

The transfer roller 30 is mounted on a swivel arm 41 which is designed as an angle lever and which swivels about a set screw 42 which is secured in an end face of the plate 20. Between the plate 20 and the swivel arm, there is arranged a compression spring 4'3. The swivel arm is secured by a step screw 44 against falling down. A feed roll 45 bears against the rubber coating 46 of the transfer roll. It is mounted at the end of a two arm lever 47 which can be swiveled by means of a journal 48 on the vertical part of the swivel arm 41. The free arm of the swivel arm 41 bears against an adjustable stationary stop 49, which provides a vertical adjustment of the transfer roll relative to the track 9 of the sorting bar. When the rubber coating 46 is worn out, the radial distance of the feed roller from its axle 50 changes and the axle is automatically lowered by the corresponding amount. The rotary drive of the transfer roller 30 is effected by drivers 51 and 52 which are arranged on the transfer roll and on the second roll of the conveyor belt.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the coins 4a and 4b which are fed in an overlapped fashion or superposed, are moved out of the discharge zone of the plate 2 by the conveyor which is indicated as moving along the line 16'. The two coins are guided against the step 31 and once the coins move beyond the stop 33, the uppermost coin 4b is directed by the conveyor 16' off the step 31 and into the receiving chute or superposed coin drop opening 32. The movement of the conveyor 16 along the dotted line 16' of the lowermost coin 4a is sufficient to bring it into the field of operation of the transfer roll 30 which moves it along the dotted line 30' indicated in FIG. 5. The transfer roll 30 then moves the coin along the trackway 9 and the associated running edge 13 to bring the coin 4a under the influence of the conveyor 14 which moves it along the dotted line 14. Thus, the bottom coin 4a is retained by the step 31, but the uppermost coin 4b is moved off into the receiving opening 32.

Each drop opening 10 etc. includes scanning means 90 immediately before it for the purpose of accurately counting the coins and their denominations as they are moved along the sorting section 8. The ejected coins which move down the slot 32 are collected in a container and fed beck into the coin dish. Naturally, the separating device can also be used in a sorting machine which is not provided with counting means.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for sorting disc-like objects, particularly coins, comprising a rotatable centrifugal plate onto which the objects to be sorted are placed, means defining a discharge passage adjacent a portion of said plate, a stripper located over said plate at the discharge passage and being spaced from said plate by an amount corresponding to the maximum thickness of the objects to be separated from the remainder of said objects, a guide track extending outwardly from the discharge passa e and having a lurality of dropout openings for ob ec s of varying size ocate at spaced locations along its length and including a first overlying coin receiving opening, said guide track having a guide bar portion on at least one side having a running edge extending to said plate with a flat step wall portion of a thickness above said tack which corresponds to the article having the smallest thickness which is being sorted, a first conveyor overlying said plate and extending over said step in said discharge and engageable with articles fed through said stripper into the discharge to urge them against said step and along said running edge, said first conveyor acting to move the top most of any overlapped objects over said step while the underlying object is retained against said step, and a second conveyor means overlying said track in a position to move the objects delivered to said track running edge along said track past said dropout openings.

2. A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 1, including at least one flat lever, means mounting said lever for rotation about a vertical axis adjacent said track, and spring means acting on said lever for engaging each object which is fed from said discharge and urging it in the direction of said step.

3. A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 1, wherein said track includes a rail portion at one edge defining a running edge, said running edge having a flat step portion adjacent said plate and a remaining higher portion, and including a separating wedge formation between said higher portion and said step portion.

4. A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 3, wherein said first conveyor includes an endless belt engageable with the objects over said plate at said discharge and for moving them into engagement with said running edge at the location of said step and directly before said wedge.

5. A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 1, wherein said second conveyor means includes a second conveyor overlying said track and a transfer roller between said second conveyor and said first conveyor for engaging coins fed from said first conveyor and moving them to said second conveyor.

6. A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 5, wherein said first conveyor comprises an endless conveyor belt, first and second guide rollers over which said conveyor belt is movable, said second guide roller being located adjacent said transfer roller and a drive roller for said transfer roller located between said transfer roller and said second roller.

7. A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 6, including a hinge plate mounted over said track and being adjustable toward and away from aid track, stp means for positioning said hinge plate at a predetermined spacing from said track.

A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 6, including a vertically movable swivel arm having a feed roller which bears on said transfer roller, spring means biasing said swivel arm to urge said feed roller to engage said transfer roller, said spring means including a two arm lever carrying said spring means and mounted on said swivel arm and having a free end bearing against a stationary stop. 

1. A device for sorting disc-like objects, particularly coins, comprising a rotatable centrifugal plate onto which the objects to be sorted are placed, means defining a discharge passage adjacent a portion of said plate, a stripper located over said plate at the discharge passage and being spaced from said plate by an amount corresponding to the maximum thickness of the objects to be separated from the remainder of said objects, a guide track extending outwardly from the discharge passage and having a plurality of dropout openings for objects of varying size located at spaced locations along its length and including a first overlying coin receiving opening, said guide track having a guide bar portion on at least one side having a running edge extending to said plate with a flat step wall portion of a thickness above said tack which corresponds to the article having the smallest thickness which is being sorted, a first conveyor overlying said plate and extending over said step in said discharge and engageable with articles fed through said stripper into the discharge to urge them against said step and along said running edge, said first conveyor acting to move the top most of any overlapped objects over said step while the underlying object is retained against said step, and a second conveyor means overlying said track in a position to move the objects delivered to said track running edge along said track past said dropout openings.
 2. A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 1, including at least one flat lever, means mountiNg said lever for rotation about a vertical axis adjacent said track, and spring means acting on said lever for engaging each object which is fed from said discharge and urging it in the direction of said step.
 3. A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 1, wherein said track includes a rail portion at one edge defining a running edge, said running edge having a flat step portion adjacent said plate and a remaining higher portion, and including a separating wedge formation between said higher portion and said step portion.
 4. A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 3, wherein said first conveyor includes an endless belt engageable with the objects over said plate at said discharge and for moving them into engagement with said running edge at the location of said step and directly before said wedge.
 5. A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 1, wherein said second conveyor means includes a second conveyor overlying said track and a transfer roller between said second conveyor and said first conveyor for engaging coins fed from said first conveyor and moving them to said second conveyor.
 6. A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 5, wherein said first conveyor comprises an endless conveyor belt, first and second guide rollers over which said conveyor belt is movable, said second guide roller being located adjacent said transfer roller and a drive roller for said transfer roller located between said transfer roller and said second roller.
 7. A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 6, including a hinge plate mounted over said track and being adjustable toward and away from aid track, stp means for positioning said hinge plate at a predetermined spacing from said track.
 8. A device for sorting disc-like objects, according to claim 6, including a vertically movable swivel arm having a feed roller which bears on said transfer roller, spring means biasing said swivel arm to urge said feed roller to engage said transfer roller, said spring means including a two arm lever carrying said spring means and mounted on said swivel arm and having a free end bearing against a stationary stop. 